Soaring food prices have brought three days of chaos to Haiti in the latest wave of growing outrage over the inability of the poor to afford even basic foods. Political unrest and violence in Haiti is nothing new, but the past three days of protests and looting is a direct response to the spike in food costs. Hundreds of injured have been treated by Medecins Sans Frontieres, the international medical aid group.

This recent violence in Haiti is not an isolated event. It is just the latest outbreak in riots and protests from the poor in countries around the world in what is developing into a growing tragedy (see my earlier posts, “perfect storm” in the making on 3/14/08 and extraordinary emergency appeal on 3/26/08)

The rioting brought Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince to a standstill, but the violence was not limited to just the major city. Reports of rioting or violence also came from Martissant, from Jacmel in the south, and also from Gonaives in the northwest. Over 2,000 held a peaceful protest in Nippes

While there are some who describe the riots as purely political, such is not the case according to Robert Fatton, a Haiti expert at the University of Virginia. He doubts there is any political motive to the protests, and describes them as a spontaneous reaction to food prices, which have risen over 40 percent globally since mid-2007.

This sharp rise in food prices is causing unrest and protests among the poor in an increasing number of countries around the world. Haiti is especially ripe for such protests as the poor are in such extreme poverty that the majority of their income already goes toward the purchase of food. Even before the increase in food prices some Haitians had to resort to eating cookies made from clay (see my post dirt cookies from 2/27/08).

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called this week for emergency aid, and France said Thursday it will send $1.6 million, including $1.2 million worth of food. However, this is only a short-term solution. Unless rising food prices are addressed there will be further protests by the poor in Haiti.

The protests are very logical given what’s happening to the cost of living  Unfortunately, we will also see growing violence from the poor in other countries as basic foods become too expensive for them to purchase. Hunger among the poor is increasing as food is being priced out of their reach.

The “perfect storm” continues to grow in intensity. More to come…